"Christians often perplex
themselves about that with which they should comfort and encourage
themselves. They look rather to find their Master in his
grave-clothes, than angels in their shining garments."

"Go ahead and tell God that you think
it is outrageous to expect anyone to believe that Jesus has risen. Go
ahead and tell God that you believe that death gets the final word. None
of this is news to God. He has heard it all before. He simply refuses to
believe it."

"Luke?s main point is that
there was no body in the tomb, which in itself could have meant many
things ? most commonly theft or interference of some kind. In Mark
the women entered and saw a young man. In Luke they see nothing
initially. The emptiness makes space in the story for their
distress."

"This is only the beginning of Luke's
resurrection story. It will continue in the Emmaus story (24:13-35),
Jesus' final appearance to the disciples (24:36-49), and his ascension
into heaven (24:50-53)."

"Like the women who came to the
tomb on that first Easter Sunday morning, we can receive so much
more than we expect. We can receive the resurrected, ascended,
exalted, and reigning Jesus and soon coming King as our personal
Lord and Savior."